Quadruple Amputee Charlotte Nott Enters Big Brother House, Discusses Prosthetics and Meningitis
The 18-year-old student, who lost her limbs to meningitis as a toddler, shared her experiences on the reality show.
Charlotte Nott, an 18-year-old student from Oxford, has entered the Big Brother house as a contestant, fulfilling a long-held dream. Nott is a quadruple amputee, having lost the lower parts of her arms and legs to meningitis at the age of two.
During the show's launch, Nott's prosthetic legs broke as she stepped out for her introduction, leading her to remove them on stage before entering the house. "Maybe it was my fate to walk in with no legs," she told the diary room. "Maybe that was just what was meant to happen."
Nott stated that she is accustomed to being without her prosthetics at home, where she often removes them for activities like cooking. "When I'm at home, I have my legs off all the time," she explained. "When I'm cooking, I have my legs off. I like to be four foot. I like to be tiny, like a little tiny doll."
Her father, Alex, expressed anxiety about her participation but noted his daughter's determined nature. He said the incident on stage perfectly encapsulated her unstoppable spirit.
Nott mentioned that many people express surprise at her ability to perform everyday tasks, such as cooking and getting dressed. "People are surprised at anything I do, even normal things like cooking, doing my makeup, getting dressed," she said. "They're probably going to be surprised at the most normal things for me."
When asked about the prize money, Nott revealed that each prosthetic leg costs approximately £25,000. "I probably would put a lot of it into savings," she said. "My prosthetic legs are about £25,000 per leg, so probably put half in savings and then the other half... just go on a nice holiday, just kind of spend it."
Caroline Hughes, senior support services Manager for the Meningitis Research Foundation, commented on the long-term consequences of meningitis, stating they are "widely misunderstood." She added, "Every day, we support people navigating the physical, emotional and practical challenges that can follow a meningitis diagnosis." Hughes highlighted the importance of Nott sharing her story, saying, "By speaking so openly about her story, she is helping bring greater understanding of the long-term impact meningitis can have, while also enabling others affected by the disease to feel seen, heard and less alone."